GPS Courses: 2013-14

Fall 2013 GPS First Year Seminars (3 credits):

Children’s TV introduces students to the impact television has on the developing child. A large part of the course is devoted to discussion of Sesame Street, answering questions such as: (1) How is research on education content integrated into the production of the show?, (2) How has this show been integrated into other cultures?, and (3) What is the long term impact of children viewing educational versus non-educational television?

Love & Lust in America is an interdisciplinary exploration into the concepts of romantic love and sexuality in American culture. We discuss changes over time in love and sexuality in the U.S., explore the scientific study of lust and love, examine media portrayals and the impact of these portrayals, and critically analyze the role of politics in lust and love in the U.S.

Knowingly or not, many of our day-to-day practices and habits are harming our environment. The repercussions of these actions are likely to have seriously negative effects on ourselves, our offspring, the other living and non-living entities that populate this planet and, of course, the planet itself. Which interests take priority? How much weight should we give to future generations of human beings? Is the planet itself an entity worthy of moral consideration? These are some of the issues we’ll discuss in this course as we probe the boundary between morality and the planet. Our aim will be to appreciate the deeper complexity of these issues by attending carefully to different moral perspectives within them.

Politics in Sports is an examination of how sports-related issues illustrate important political concepts, including nation-building through sports, regionalism, inter- and intra-state conflicts, political systems (authoritarianism and democracy), citizenship,, civil rights (gender, LGBT, disability issues), public policies (education, economic policies, health, etc.), elections and public opinion (sports and political campaigns), and the role of media, in the U.S. and around the world.

Non-profit Hopscotch explores the good work being done by nonprofit organizations around the world, from international NGOs, to nonprofits in China, Germany, and other countries, to right here in our own backyard. What role do they play, and how do they partner with governments and each other? What work do they do, and are they effective? Along the way we’ll find ways to make a difference in our own community.

Fall 2013 GPS Student Success Workshops:

Once a week during the fall semester, all GPS students get together for workshops on topics central to college success, including information on basic college skills like time management and effective reading, on campus opportunities such as study abroad and campus organizations, and on life skills such as financial management or maintaining health and managing stress. Each workshop is led by expert faculty or staff from UW Green Bay, and provides students with the opportunity use the skills and information they’re learning.

“The GPS program gave me the opportunity to learn how to be a good student. Through each student success workshop, I learned helpful tips that have helped me through many of my courses just this semester.”

“The workshops taught me ways to study, relieve stress, utilize the campus, get involved, and maintain good college etiquette. They were all very helpful and changed my outlook on college.”

Fall 2013 Intro to Human Biology (Hum Biol 102) (3 credits):

There are three basic goals for this course: 1) to help you understand how the human body works, 2) to introduce you to basic scientific principles and thought processes, and 3) to help you understand and form opinions about some of the many controversial issues in biology today. Hum Biol 102 is the course most of UW Green Bay students take to fulfill part of the Natural Science General Education requirements, and most students choose to take it during their first year. So we have chosen to include it as part of the GPS program courses in the fall semester.

TOSS Study Sessions:

Hum Bio 102 is also one of the more challenging courses you’re likely to take in your first year, and so the GPS program provides students with free weekly study sessions (called TOSS sessions, for Targeted Opportunities for Success in Science).

These sessions are led by upper-level undergraduates who excel in the major, and during the sessions students work in small groups on activities that allow you to review vocabulary, get practice applying concepts, and learn skills for how to read and effectively study the course content.

And TOSS works! Over 80% of the students who attended at least 8 of these weekly sessions in fall 2013 earned A’s or B’s in the class – and that’s compared to only 40% of students who didn’t attend the sessions.

“I would say that my TOSS TA’s are hands down the number one reason why I did so well in bio this semester…and they also were the ones who got me considering bio as a possible minor.”

“…the TOSS sessions and the student workshops were extremely helpful with my academics. TOSS sessions gave me the help I needed to succeed in biology that I probably wouldn’t have utilized had I not been in the program.”

“While I begrudgingly admit that I don’t exactly enjoy studying, I see it as a necessary evil that the GPS program has forced me to tackle head on, and it has helped greatly.”

“The TA’s at the TOSS sessions became people I can talk to about more than just Biology and they helped me so much during tough study sessions.”

Spring 2014 GPS 1-credit Seminar (1 credit):

This course serves as a capstone to the Phoenix GPS program first year experience. It challenges students to apply the knowledge they’ve gained in their first year seminar course to address a real-world problem from an interdisciplinary perspective, by developing and implementing a service learning project with their class over the course of the spring semester. The course also provides students with the opportunity to think intentionally about, and develop a plan for how they will maximize the impact of, their college experience, by completing a career and major development portfolio over the course of the semester.

“I can’t wait for the next GPS class during the spring semester. I believe that this will be even better than my current one, because we are literally going out in the community and helping the less fortunate.”

“The GPS program influenced me to become a more caring person and find new ways to help others.”